Berarducci explained that the civil service list will expire on Dec. 2 of this year, so if council did not approve the new position Monday night, holding a new testing session could cost the city $10,000 — the cost of the last round of testing.

During the finance meeting preceding Monday’s regular City Council meeting, members asked the chief why there needed to be an emergency for the vote and why council was not notified earlier. Mayor Dennis Hanwell offered the explanation.

“I intentionally delayed it because I was waiting to see what’s going on with the lieutenants,” Hanwell said. “I was hearing rumors and talking with them and getting the impression that one may be going . . . and then we got up against the deadline of the test.”

The opening has occurred in the department because Sergeant Darin Zaremba has been working with the internet technology for the city and also works for the schools. City Council President John Coyne asked why he could not be moved into a different sector than police.

“I think that would really adversely affect him,” Chief Berarducci stated. “He’s a career law enforcement officer. He’s been here 18 years, I believe, so he’s pretty far along in his pension program.”

Hanwell explained further that although Zaremba technically could switch departments, it would greatly blur the lines for his retirement, which would not be fair to him since he started doing IT work to benefit the city.

“He came back off the road at the request of the city to handle these IT needs that were falling through the cracks,” Hanwell said. “That would be detrimental to him to put him into a civilian position rather than keep him into a separate slot here.

“The other advantage it creates for us is that he’s still sworn, he’s still certified, he’s still qualified,” added Hanwell, explaining how Zaremba still assists the police department with work when needed.

“This is just one of those examples where we are getting a dual benefit out of a paid, full-time employee and meeting the needs of the city,” said Hanwell. “Will there come a day, possibly, when we have to have an IT department? Probably, but I’m trying to delay that as long as I can to control the expenses.”

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